In the federal government, most people are part of the "General Schedule"
or GS, pay system, under which you will be assigned to a grade, from GS-1
to GS-15, and a step within that grade, from 1 to 10. Salaries vary by
grade, step, and location. Generally speaking, higher grades earn more
than lower grades, and higher steps earn more than lower steps within
a single grade. The Office of Personnel Management determines the pay
for each grade and each step.

Starting pay varies by the position and the level of responsibility.
It is also adjusted by geographic location. Certain hard-to-fill jobs,
usually in the scientific, technical, and medical fields, may have higher
starting salaries. Exact pay information for each job can be found on
the vacancy announcement.

Professional and administrative positions generally start at GS-5 for
an entry level college graduate and GS-12/13 for a senior analyst or scientist.

Clerical positions may start at a General Schedule (GS) -2 grade level
for an office automation clerk and GS-5 for a secretarial position.

Visit the Office of Personnel Management's Pay
and Leave page to
find policies and the most current pay tables.

That depends upon the position you are applying for. Some jobs are listed at a specific grade. For others, EPA could hire you at one of several grades. In that case, you should compare your experience with the qualification requirements set forth on the specific job announcement.

Yes. Training opportunities are available through private vendors and
accredited colleges and universities. If the training is job-related and
funds are available, EPA can pay the total cost of the training.

What do vacancy announcements mean when the say they are open to "Status"
or "Non-Status" applicants?

Applicants with "Status" are permanent federal employees on career or
career-conditional appointments or former federal employees who were career
or career-conditional. "Non-Status" applicants have not worked for the
federal government on a career or career-conditional appointment.

What does it mean to be on a "Career" or "Career-Conditional" appointment?

Permanent appointments in the federal government are either career-conditional
or career. career-conditional appointments are generally used for initial
appointments. Once an employee completes three years of continuous service
under a career-conditional appointment, his or her appointment becomes
career. Office of Personnel Management: Career-Conditional Appointments.

Do I need to take any government tests or get on any OPM registers
in order to qualify for a career with EPA?

No. EPA can hire its own employees without OPM review for most positions.
Most of the time, we review your qualifications, but you won't take a
test. That's why you have to give us your resume and answer certain questions
when you apply. You may also be required to submit your college transcripts.

Can I work for free for EPA, just to get some experience? If so, under
what conditions?

Working for free for EPA is called a "volunteer" assignment. The only
volunteers that can work for EPA are bona fide students who are fulfilling
an internship or practicum requirement which must be certified by the
school they attend.

Do graduate degrees play an important role in advancement opportunities
at EPA? If so, which specific degrees are you seeking?

For many scientific positions, we actively seek people with advanced
degrees. Advanced degrees can be used in lieu of experience. For example,
having a Master's Degree could qualify you at the GS-9 level and having
a Ph.D. Degree could qualify you at the GS-11 level. Many of the scientific
positions, such as biologist or chemist, have a specific education requirement
like a degree in that discipline. Once on board, there is no general,
agency-wide requirement for an advanced degree to enhance promotional
opportunity, but it can be a factor depending on the needs of the particular
part of EPA.

You may apply for any job regardless of where you currently live, but
we might not pay for you to move. Vacancy announcements include the job's
location and whether we will pay travel and relocation expenses.

Must I remain within a specific career track, once I'm working at EPA?

There is no requirement that you must remain in a particular career track
such as a biologist. Many people change fields or from program to management
positions with similar grade tracks but different duties.